Ears Wide Open: 1st Vows

Seraphina Lotkhamnga on March 25th, 2015

0

The last two years have produced hundreds of alt-R&B acts; anyone who attended SXSW this year can attest to that. Recently R&B has often been shrouded in brooding textures to heighten those sensual elements to something that is more chic or even dangerous. Take a record by either Banks or The Weeknd for a spin and you won’t hear much light there. The enticement comes from the shadows. However, it’s nice to hear R&B acts go head first into the funkier, slinker elements too. 1st Vows, the new solo moniker for Ryan Hunter, does exactly this with his latest single “Kimono.” It’s an interesting listen considering Hunter was a member of post-hardcore band Envy On the Coast (who saw their demise in 2010) and then offshoot NK (formerly North Korea) with Envy On the Coast’s Brian Byrne and The Dillinger Escape Plan’s Billy Rymer. Under the 1st Vows moniker Hunter also goes for the dark tones on his debut single “Desperation,” but it seems a natural fit when his vocals are stripped down and notes crackle and fizzle. “The Red EP” from 1st Vows is slated for an April 7 self-release.

||| Stream: “Kimono” and “Desperation”